Golf Club Grip

ABSTRACT

A golf club grip including a thin, resilient elastomeric inner sleeve and a tapered outer sleeve. The inner sleeve includes an elongated tubular body having an enlarged proximal end portion and being sized for sliding engagement onto the handle area of a golf club. The outer sleeve is preferably coextensive with, and adhered onto an outer surface of the tubular body and is formed of thin resilient preferably natural cork material. A proximal end of the outer sleeve abuts against a shoulder forming a transition between the thin tubular body and enlarged proximal end portion. The tapered outer surfaces of the inner and outer sleeves are substantially taperingly continuous.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of golf club equipment, and more particularly to a replaceable golf club grip having a natural cork gripping outer surface.

2. Description of Related Art

A great deal of attention has been given to technology associated with golf club grips. The degree to which such grips provide both comfort and stability of the club shaft in the hands of the golfer has a major impact on the quality of the golf swing and, ultimately, a golfer's successful playing of the game of golf.

An additional issue which has arisen in competition golf matches, particularly, in inclement weather such as fog, extremely humid conditions and rainfall. Being virtually impossible to maintain a totally dry condition of the golf clubs and the golf club handles themselves, a golfer will find himself (or his caddy) continually towel drying the golf club handle just prior to each swing. And even then, there will be short durations when the golf club handle is exposed and can again become coated with moisture or rainwater. Thus, the attention previously given to golf handle wraps which dramatically enhance the grippability of the golf club handle even in humid and rainy conditions has also greatly improved the ability of the golfer to maintain the golf club in a desired gripping orientation without slippage during each golf club swing.

The present invention provides a novel two-part combination grip having a support or underlayment of a thin elastomeric inner sleeve and an outer sleeve adhered thereonto which is formed of natural cork material. The natural cork material itself is somewhat structurally weak and therefore the unique combination with a tubular elastomeric support inner sleeve affords both structural integrity and enhanced grippability afforded by the natural cork outer sleeve surface.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a golf club grip including a thin, resilient elastomeric inner sleeve and a tapered outer sleeve. The inner sleeve includes an elongated tubular body having an enlarged proximal end portion and being sized for sliding engagement onto the handle area of a golf club. The outer sleeve is preferably coextensive with, and adhered onto an outer surface of the tubular body and is formed of thin resilient preferably natural cork material. A proximal end of the outer sleeve abuts against a shoulder forming a transition between the thin tubular body and enlarged proximal end portion. The tapered outer surfaces of the inner and outer sleeves are substantially taperingly continuous.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a golf club grip, either as a replaceable grip or as originally manufactured, for a golf club which provides a natural cork outer gripping surface for enhanced grippability and club stability during golf play.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a replaceable golf club grip which takes advantage of the uniquely grippable surface of natural cork while providing enhanced structure and strength to a natural cork gripping surface for a golf club by providing an inner support structure onto which the cork outer sleeve is permanently adhered.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a golf club grip which provides enhanced club stability even in rainy conditions.

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative and not limiting in scope. In various embodiments one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded broken perspective view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the installation of FIG. 1 onto the shaft of a golf club shown in phantom.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of FIG. 4 showing the grip in the installed position onto the shaft of a golf club.

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered to be illustrative rather than limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral 10 and includes an outer sleeve 12 and an inner sleeve 14. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner sleeve 14 is preferably formed as a single homogenous unit of elastomeric material of either synthetic or natural rubber. The inner sleeve 14 includes an elongated tubular body 28 formed of thin uniform elastomeric material having a thickness in the range of approximately 1/16″ to ⅛″ extending to an enlarged tapering proximal end portion 14. The interior cavity 24 is sized in diameter 26 for slidable engagement and glued adhesion, where necessary, onto the shaft S of a golf club G as best seen in FIG. 4, the club head H being disposed at the lower end of the golf club G.

The outer sleeve 12 is formed of natural cork material which may be in composite form of natural cork particles or machined entirely from a solid piece of natural cork. The outer surface 16 tapers and enlarges toward the distal end 18 of the outer sleeve 12 and is sized in inside dimension to be slidably engaged over the outer surface of the tubular body 28 of the inner sleeve 14 and adhered permanently together by the application of suitable adhesive material prior to installation shown in FIG. 3.

The proximal end of the outer sleeve 12 abuts a shoulder 34 formed as a transition between the generally cylindrical configuration of the tubular body 28 and the tapering enlarged proximal end portion 22 of the inner sleeve 12. Thus, the outer sleeve 12 is substantially equal in length to the length of the tubular body 28 of the inner sleeve 14.

On installation of the grip 10 as seen in FIG. 4 in the direction of arrow A, air must escape from the interior cavity 24 and, thusly, although each end of the inner and outer sleeves are capped at 18 and 30, aligned air ports or holes 20 and 32 are provided for this necessary release of air as the grip 10 is installed onto the shaft S of the golf club G. Moreover, the tubular distal end of the shaft S, bearing against a double thickness of the end caps 18 and 30, enhances durability and decreases the likelihood that the end of the shaft will cut or abrade through the grip 10 in this area.

The outer surface 16 of the outer sleeve 12 and that of the proximal end portion 22 are substantially continuous and uniform, tapering and enlarging toward the distal end of the grip 10 as is custom in golf club design. Although the enlarged proximal end 22 is not a gripping surface itself, that function being delegated strictly to the outer surface of the outer grip 12, nonetheless the uniform transition provided between these two outer surfaces reduces or eliminates any unnecessary snagging or tearing or frictional abuse of the proximal end of the outer sleeve 12 against the shoulder 34 each time a golf club is removed from and placed back into a golf bag when not in use.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permeations and additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permeations, additions and subcombinations that are within their true spirit and scope. 

1. A golf club grip comprising: a thin, resilient elastomeric inner sleeve including an elongated tubular body having an enlarged proximal end portion; said inner sleeve having a uniform wall thickness and being sized in inside diameter for sliding engagement onto a handle area of a golf club; an outer sleeve tapering and enlarging in wall thickness toward a distal end thereof and being generally coextensive with, and adhered onto an outer surface of, said tubular body, said outer sleeve formed as a unit of thin resilient natural cork material; a proximal end of said outer sleeve abutted against a shoulder which is formed as a transition between said tubular body and said enlarged proximal end portion; outer surfaces of said inner and outer sleeves being substantially continuously tapering and enlarging toward a distal end of said club grip.
 2. A golf club grip comprising: a thin, resilient elastomeric inner sleeve including an elongated tubular body having an enlarged proximal end portion; said inner sleeve slidably engageable onto a handle area of a golf club; a tapered outer sleeve formed as a unit of thin resilient natural cork material and being coextensive with, and adhered onto an outer surface of said tubular body; a proximal end of said outer sleeve abutted against a shoulder formed as a transition between the thin tubular body and enlarged proximal end portion; tapered outer surfaces of said inner and outer sleeves being substantially continuous.
 3. A golf club grip comprising: a thin, resilient elastomeric inner sleeve including an elongated tubular body having an enlarged proximal end portion; said inner sleeve having an unsealed distal end cap and an open proximal end and being sized for sliding engagement onto a handle area of a golf club; a tapered outer sleeve having an unsealed distal end cap and being coextensive with, and adhered onto an outer surface of said tubular body and being formed as a unit of thin resilient cork material; a proximal end of said outer sleeve abutted against a shoulder formed as a transition between the thin tubular body and enlarged proximal end portion; tapered outer surfaces of said inner and outer sleeves being substantially continuous. 